Articulator



May 22, 1928. 1,670,311

T. A. MUSANTE ARTICULATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1927 INVEN TOR. MM a. M,

By I,

5 Arm)??? Patented May 22, 1928.

THOMAS MUSANTE, or LOS ANGELES, mada -.1

.aRnoqLa'ron Application'filed January 29,,1927. Serial No 164,562.

This invention relates to and has for a primarfy object the provision of an improved type 0 making of dentures. lators recognized by the dental profession as being the most accurate depended upon mechanical adjustments incorporated there in for 'reproducing' the condyle paths,

whereas my articulators'are not dependent" upon-meehanical' adjustments nordo they require mathematical computations or cal p a forward andcentrally positioned cup a',,f'at

culationsof any kind in order'to an exact reproduction of the condyle path.

The condyle path for each individual case is so set up that accuracy is assured in the condyle action, and a correct occlusal plane necessarily follows.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide in an'articulator means 'for accurately setting up the dentures in'such a manner that they will eltac'tlyconform to the occlusal plane of the'bite-blocks and of the natural teeth. 4

A further object is'to provide in an articulator in combination with relatively'adjustable members for supporting'the maxillary and mandibular casts, of means whereby an accurate record in wax or other suitable plastic material may be made from the biteblocks so that the occlusal plane of the biteblocks may he transferred accurately to the dentures in order that the completed dentures may as nearly as possible, conform to the original dentures of a patient.

Still other objects include the provision of a new and useful and novel design and arrangement of parts forming the structure of the articulator, and the necessary number and arrangement of the adjustments, whereby the cast supporting members may be adjusted one with respect to the other.

Other objects will appear hereinafter:

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved articulator, as seen from the front.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable maxillary cast supporting plate.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the articulator as seen from the rear; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device, showing casts and dentures operatively positioned therein.

As shown in the drawings, the device inarticulator, adapted for use in the,

Heretofore the articu- 'cludes a Jh Y i i ui" posed bottom 1,"

P is mounted and arranged for adjustment 3 longitudinall ofthetoa m 1. The plate" P 'correspon I s generally to the'sl'lowin'gbf a similar plate-"P'"in Figi'2,'a'n1d is "a'd stj j able on thebottom 1 by means of a threaded'w stem, as'at' 2,1which; is movable througli' 'af longitudinally disposed slot, est; a, and as held ste pb i q y" nte we "1; of suitable 'ch'aracter','as a The bottom I of the Basel tached' to'or forniedpnthe' upper side of an arm 5, from o e boaem; 1,'iand similar cups 1), and c'ar eprovided on m-msje and 7 at the sides of the bottom The axis of the cup a cuts the longitudinal center line ofth'e bottom 1, while the axis of the cups 6 and 0 out a transverse line atY rightang le s to said longitudinal center line, the clips'b and a being positioned substantially rearwardly" ofthecup a.' Belo'w each of said cups, bosses as at '8,

8, etc, are providedon the bottom 1, which are adapted to reston a'tableor' bench for supporting the articulator in operative'position. j

At the rear of the bottom 1', thebase B is provided with a"transverse portion 9 hav-' ing laterally projecting end portions 10 and I 11, with vertical posts12 and 13 respectively, 5 formed thereon. The 'member9 also has rests 14 and 15 on the bottomv thereof, flush with the bottoms of the bosses 8 and adapted to rest upon a table or bench.

The base B is provided withan adjustable frame F at the rear, comprising a transverse member of square or rectangular cross section, as at 16,'with depend-ing'hollow sleeves 17 and 18 attached theretoor' formed thereon, which slidably embrace the posts 12 and 13, respectively. Said sleeves are provided with bosses 19 and 20 on their outer sides, which are internally threaded so as to receive adjusting screws 21 and 21, the inner ends of which are adapted to engage the loo peripheries of the posts 12 and 13, respectively, for holding the frame F in adjusted position.

The bar 16 of the frame F is in the same vertical plane as the cross bar 9 of the base B, and is'adapted to slidably and adjustably into the guides of the cups, and the inner ends of which engage one of the sidesof the bar 16.

with respect-[to said base, I provide an upper memhe'rjor 'top' D, with a web,.24 havinga central front arm 25, andlaterallyhprojectr ingarrnsQG and 27. Said armscarry, respectively, downwardly exten'ded; bearings 28, '29 Land 30, which 9 a re ..l'.y- Sa d in selected positionsfby means of set screws 31;32 and 33,"respectively; which extend through the bearings of the pins andengage theperipheriesjof said pins. The top mem;-

ber Dfhas a rearwardly extending portion 34 which is atta'chedto or formed on a transverse member 35 in .thevertical planeof the member 16, andcarrying on itsend portions adjustable sleeves 36 and 36'. Member 35 is [preferably of square rectangular cross section, and the sleeves 36 are correspond ingly formed so that they may slide on the member 35, but may not be rotated thereon.

Said sleeves are held in selectedpositions by means of set screws and 37 and at their outer ends are provided with dependingpins f and f, which are positioned approximatelyv centrally of the cups dancl e.

The top member D is attached to and sup-' ported on the frame]? in the following manner. The bar 16 has av centrally formed upstanding portion 38 which is provided with horizontally formed portions 39 and 39, on the opposite sides ofthe portion 38 and in the plane of the member 16. Coil springs S and S serve to connect the members D and F in adjustable relation. Said springs S and S are provided, respectively, with bent inner end portions 40 and 41 which are extended through the inner portions of extensions 39 and 39, while the outer end portions 42 and 43 of said springs are bent inwardly and thence upwardly through perforations in the member D, the ends of said bent portions overlying the top of the member D, as shown in Fig. 3.

The springs S and S are coiled around the extensions 39 and 39, and being attached thereto serve to hold the top D resiliently hinged to the frame.F for universal movement, the tension of the spring serving to maintain the member D and asso; ciated parts in a central position with respect to the baseB. The record cups d and e are positioned in the condyle plane and hich are threaded v fixed thereto the maxillary .denture Hf,

. r d pedw adijustably, and slidably receive guide pins 3 7? h l have horizontally alined pins 45 and 46 extended outwardly therefrom at positions corresponding to the temporal .mandibular hichfall measurements in the articulator are taken and all adjustments are made.

As shown in Fig. 4 the-plate P on base B is adapted to support a mandibular cast as at M,'whicl1 has fixed thereto the lower or x A mandibular-denture H. Likewise, the plate Substantially above the'base, and mounted on the frame} for universal movement P attached to 'tlie'member is adapted to support the maxillary cast M which has the casts Mfa n d beingniade o f ,plaster or.- bei ng ztormedsofihatthe plaster willtill and o erl es p u ali yp 0v ligs. 2 and/1, forholging the casts fixedly enings as at 47, 47 in on l rr t essla s.

wax orothe f Suitab e plastic element, as at \V, The cupsarefilled with the wax to the It,will beobserved, that the incisal guide pin G is positioned on the member D so to be normallycentral with respect to the .incisal record cup a, and the lateral occlusal guide pins g-and g are mounted centrally on member D with respect to the cups d and c of the member B. When the. members of The record .eups a, I), 0, and ewhich, are onlount edin thegnanner, herein described on the base B are adapted to be filled with a the articulator are properly positioned with I respect to each other, the condyle path guide pins and should becentral with respect to the record'cups d and 6, respectively.

The 1 1545. and 46 extended from the cups d and a, respectively, are adapted to pivot ally, ,supportthe usual face-bow attachment by lllQilIlS Oi: which the bite-blocks are transferred, in proper position, from the patients :mouth to the articulatonso as to receive and mount the maxillary or mandibular casts on models from which mounted casts and bite-blocks the records of .the condyle path is transferred to the articulator.

The guide pins G, g andg' are provided on their lower endswith enlargements 5U, 51), etc, having their lower ends substantially rounded, as indicated, for engagement with .the upper surface of the wax inlays in the record cups, so that the pins may be caused to move easilyov'er the upper faces of saidinlays in making a record, as hereinafter described. 7

In operation, thebite-blocks havingbeen previously made and the occlusal inclined plane established thereon by proper technique, not material to-this invention, and the same having been attached to the usual face bow, the bitesblocks are then mounted on casts, as at M and M and attached to the plates P and P, respectively, of the articulator. The approximateposition of the oclif lit)

tions of the iguide gitudinally, circulatory 36': are adjustablelaterally to properly position the face bowattachment,3and the guide pins (ii-=9 and ga're adjusted in-their'bearings so that when the bite-blocksare in'a position of centric occlusion, the record makingportions 50 thereof will=rest upon the upper concz-wefacesd-i) of-the wax inlays W in the irecordcups. In ithis=position all of the-adjustments are set up so as to'retain the-relative positions of-the casts M and M which hold the-bite.-blocks in centric ocelu-- Thereafter the waxninlays W aro'heated so ,:as.-to softenz the same to -.a isufficient' extentii thatthey will be' marked: by :the por- .pins when the upper member D.-is moved universally.zwith the bitesblocks in proper occlusionfi-The portions 50 thus, serve toindentzthe. concave faces of; the wax. inlays W laterally, lonand vertically, in exactconformity to the occlusal inclined plane OfQthe bite-blocks, and may be said to transfer.the exact conditionsiof occlusion to the record cups. .1

It will.be understood inthis connection that all of the record cups a, I), c, d and e cooperate to produce this record, the axis of the maxillary support D being substantially in the condyle path, that is, coincident with the. axes of the pins-t5 and 46. Thus, any irregularity or peculiarity in the occlusal inclined plane is at once indicated on'one or more of the record cups.

After thecompletion .of the record from the bite-blocks, the wax inlays are allowed to again harden, preparatory-to a transfer of the record from theinlays to the dentures H and H. In order to effect the articulation of the dentures the bite-blocks are removed from the casts and base plates, and placed on the casts upon which the dentures are set up. In my technique I allow the lower biteblock to remain in position -on its cast and set up the .upper denture, using the lower bite-block as a guide. I first adapt a base plate to the upper cast and set up the teeth thereon, allowing the cusps to rest on the lower bite-block, the surface of which is already in an approximate plane. These casts are not removed from the articulator at any time until the dentures are ready for the flashing operation. Thus the dentures H and H are inserted in the same positions on the members B and D in which the bite blocks casts were held, so that the occlusal inclined plane of the dentures will be exactly in the same'position'with respect tO-thGItCHi-I poro mandibular :joint, as inthecase-ofthe i- -ferredexactly to thedentures for :efi'ecting-=- a permanent, coordination :therebetweeni con-:5 responding? to .theexact conditions prevail ing in the patient. 159 any:

The :tchnique: from J hereon1 substan tially the same as'inow inrvdgue, and neces-a -f sarily=. includes the; adj usting! and settingiof 1. i the A teeth. in the *dentures, the; properjmeslr ing thereof,v adjustingthe dentures-fin the casts, andlother adjustmentsw hich-itend to 0 produce the proper-relationship between-the dentures and the=maintainance ofTthe inclined plane thereof. as established inutherecordg- It will beobserved 'by "reference to the description and drawingsof my device, that the interconnection betweenthe members B and D lissuch-as to provide a'complete uni-- versalityjof movement; of the member D. Said member-may be -tilted-laterally, backwardlyand forwardly,-the same may be oscillated in any direction, and the tension of--- the springs S and ZSfserve to maintain the normal relationship between .the'two mem-c bers and to restore. the member Dto such Y normal relationship when the same is moved.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that .I may modify my invention within the scope of the. appended claims without departing flOIIL-tht} spirit thereof.

What I claim is: v

1..An articulator .for the purpose ,described, comprising relatively movable mandibular and maxillary denture supporting members, means including a plurality of plastic recording elements positioned at points forwardly -and on opposite sides of the set of dentures on oneof said members, and guides on the other of said members corresponding in positions to and adapted for contact with the plastic elements, for the purpose described.

2. An articulator comprising a mandibular denture supporting member having a plurality of plastic record making elements supported at the front and sides thereon, a maxillary denture supporting. member movable with respect to said other member, and provided with guides corresponding innumber and positions to and arranged for contact 9 said guide members,

with said plastic elements=for marking the plastic'ieletnents to correspond to thelocclusal inclined plane of the dentures.

3.v An articulator including a: base sup porting dentures thereon, a plurality of caps on the: base radially arranged .with respect to and positioned forwardly, laterally. .and rearwardly-of said denture,a relatively mow able member above. said base for supporting another denture inocclusion' with. the gfirst denture, a pluralityaof guide members ver-' tically alined: withsaid cups-and supported and eplasticxeleon said movable? member,= meme-carried in said cups. for contact" with whereby when the upper. member -.is moved: with? said dentures in occlusion, I corresponding markings -.will be; made in 'saidplastic material said guide member. .t 4,- An articulator COIHPI'lSiII ea stationary base having a-plurality'of fixed-soups, at thc -front and: sides-thereof, a top ;member. resiliently connected withisaid basefor'runiversnl .movement recording-elements can ried insaidcups, and 'guidepins adj ustablycarriedzon said top for-engagement with and for-marking on sa-id recordin'g elements to indicate the inovement-of-saidtops '2,

5. An articulator comprising a basehaving a plurality of fixed record cups thereon, below the'occlusal plane,- anda pairoflad:

justable record cups transversely alined in the condy-le path :and above the occlusal plane, said cups having-recording:elements therein, a top resiliently connected to said baseand provided with members cooperating with all of said record cups for indi eating the movement of the top with respect to the base.

6. An 'articulator comprising a base, a frame vertically adjustable-on said base, a plurality of record cups in fixed positions on the base, a pair of record cups adjustable vertically and horizontally on the base, a top resiliently connected to said frame for universal movement with respect to "the base. and means on the top cooperatingwith said record cups for recording the movement of the top with respect to the base, for the purpose described. i

'7. Au articulator comprising a stationary base having means for supporting a denture thereon, a frame vertically adjustable ou' the rear of said base, a top yieldably mounted on said frame. arranged for universal movement with respect thereto, and proby meansof low the occlusal plane'of the dentures.

'vided with mea'nsforsupporting a-denture' thereon, a pair of cups havingrecording elements therein adjustable with said frame with respect to' saidi base, and laterally on said frame, and transversely alined in a .condyle path, and a pair of marking elements oi guidemembers laterally adjustable on said top and cooperating with and for-marking the lim-itsot occlusion of said dentures on said recording elements. 8. An articulatort-as --characterized in to said base and having'zrecording elements -.therein. .al'id .arranged-at. points forwardly and on opposite side's-of said dentures, and -adjustable tguide pins supported on said top in vertical alinement with said cups for recording the limits of occlusion at points he- 9. An articular comprising a stationary base having a platefcent-rally mounted-there- .on for supporting: a mandibular denture, a .i plurality i of cups-rztorwardly and laterally =of said; plateifor holding a plastic recording element, ,-a pair'of transversely alined *postsvertically extended from the reanof ,isaid-base, a frame vertically adjustable on "said posts,;a top yieldably supported on said tran'ie-and' provided with a plate for supporting a maxillary denture in occlusion v-with said mandibular denture, a pair of record -cups laterally :adjustable on said frame above the plane of occlusion of said dentures for supporting a plastic recording element, a plurality of vertically adjustable guide pins supported on said top in aline-' ment with said fixed 5 recording elements, and a pair of laterally adjustable guide pins supported on said top for engagement with said adjustable recording elements, for the purpose described. a i i v 10. An articular comprising a stationary base and a movable "top arranged, respec tively. for supporting mandibular and maxillary dentures in occluding positions, means lorlyieldably supportingsaid top=on said haseand a pair of transversely alined marking elements and recording-elements laterally adjustable in the condyle path for rer-" rding the limits ofocclusion of said dentures. I I

ll. An articulator as characterized in claim including means for vertically adjusting said top and said marking elements. I

- THOMAS A. MUSANTE.

claim- 7 including aplurality of cups fixed 

